Expect Resurrection

Greetings and love from Indianapolis as deputations from the Episcopal Church gather for General Convention 2012.  It is an impressive city – state capital, university town, former home of Peyton Manning, clean with almost a brand new look.  It is sun burned,  brown and dehydrated, triple digits – right in the heartland of the U.S.

We are establishing an inspiring community.  Close to 2,000 Episcopalians hailing from all parts of the globe, 111 dioceses represented, are communing to discern God’s dream for the mission, direction, and growth of the Episcopal Church.  It is a diverse crowd and very sociable.

The questions buzz around:

Where are you from?

What is the Episcopal Church like there?

What is working in your parish?

Who are your people and do you know ……?

The Opening Eucharist was robust – different languages praying from the same Book of Common Prayer, stirring music, Presiding Bishop Katherine’s opening remarks welcomed us to this Episcopalian family reunion and encouraged us to reconnect with our “relatives” and listen again to their holy stories.   She encouraged us to build bridges, make connections and “expect Resurrection.”

Day One of General Convention (Thursday, July 5th) was about orientation and establishing ground rules. It is a task to wrangle all these passionate folks together to decide important things,  So, we worked to get “our house in order” and readying ourselves for the sacred business before us - over 700 resolutions.  Legislative Committees have begun meeting and we had our first taste of a legislative session.

Day Two looks more concentrated – community eucharist,  two legislative sessions with committees meeting and hearings peppered in few open spaces of the day.

It is a powerful process to witness.  Resolutions are filed in from all over the Episcopal Church.  Then, legislative committees listen and debate and fine tune the resolutions.  Then, they are sent to both houses – House of Bishops and House of Deputies – from more deliberations and possible adoption.  All of our work is done in the context of prayer and being very aware of God’s sweet Presence in this place.

This entire crowd seems to be aware that the Episcopal Church is facing a large range of complicated issues.  We will be different after our ten days together, and we pray we will be better equipped to do Christ’s ministry to help relieve the suffering of the world and build God’s full reign on Earth.

The Very Rev. Andy Andrews
Dean, St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
Chair, Diocese of West Tennessee Deputation